BEEVILLE – Victoria police have arrested a 47-year-old former dispatcher for the Beeville Police Department on four counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child charges.

He was arrested on April 17, and his bond was set at $75,000. If he is released on bond, the defendant cannot have contact with the alleged victim, her parents or siblings, and he may not go within 200 yards of her residence, place of employment or school.

The suspect, Martin Garcia, reportedly admitted during an interview with Detective David Ruiz of the Victoria Police Department and Detective Sgt. Art Gamez that he had touched two girls sexually in early 2005, while he and his former wife were living in Victoria.

Beeville Police Chief Joe Treviño said this week that Martin was hired as a dispatcher here on Oct. 13, 2006, and that his department completed a full background check on him before he was hired.

Treviño said every employee at the BPD is required to pass an extensive criminal background check. In Garcia’s case, he had no history of criminal activity when he was hired.

According to reports, Garcia and his wife would sometimes keep one victim when she was about four or five years old. The incidents for which he was charged allegedly occurred on Jan. 1, Feb. 1, March 1 and April 1, 2005.

Aggravated sexual assault is a first degree felony. If convicted, Garcia could be sentenced to five to 99 years or life in prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.

Treviño said his department became involved in the investigation of the incidents when authorities here were contacted by VPD investigators.

He said his department not only cooperated in the investigation but assisted in it.

According to a report in Victoria, the investigation began after the victim told an adult of the alleged incidents in December 2013.

The adult contacted the San Patricio Sheriff’s Office and investigators there contacted the VPD.

Treviño said that when the BPD was contacted, investigators here made arrangements for the suspect to be interviewed here.

The chief said Martin approached him several months before he was arrested and voluntarily resigned his position as a BPD dispatcher.

Treviño said the suspect was taken into custody by U.S. marshals while he was working as an EMS dispatcher in Beeville.

Gary Kent is a reporter at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 120, or at reporter@mySouTex.com.